Rubio plans to visit the Vatican this week as tensions between Trump and the pope rise - AP News

Rubio plans to visit the Vatican this week as tensions between Trump and the pope rise  AP News

US stock futures mixed as Middle East risks remain in focus - Reuters

US stock futures mixed as Middle East risks remain in focus  Reuters

Bessent Calls on China, Allies to Join US Operation in Hormuz - Bloomberg.com

Bessent Calls on China, Allies to Join US Operation in Hormuz  Bloomberg.com

Rubio to Visit Rome, Officials Say, After Trump’s Feud With Pope and Meloni

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip will come after President Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV and then turned on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for defending the pontiff.

By Elisabetta Povoledo

Trump’s War With the Pope - WSJ

Trump’s War With the Pope  WSJ

The oil price crunch is looming

The longer the Strait of Hormuz blockade continues, the more likely a crisis-like adjustment in rich economies becomes

Trump's renewed threats against the European automotive industry further undermine the Turnberry deal

On May 1, the US president announced his intention to raise tariffs to 25% on European cars and trucks, once again highlighting the limitations of the trade agreement negotiated last summer between the United States and the European Union.

Marco Rubio to meet Pope Leo after Trump’s broadside against pontiff

US secretary of state’s two-day visit reportedly intended to thaw Washington’s frosty relations with Vatican and Italy The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, will meet Pope Leo on Thursday, weeks after Donald Trump’s unprecedented broadside against the pontiff. Rubio will meet the first US-born pope privately in the Vatican’s apostolic palace at 11.30am (10.30 GMT), the Holy See’s press office confirmed on Monday after media reports on Sunday. Continue reading...

By Angela Giuffrida in Rome

Brazil’s Lula to travel to US to meet with Trump later this week

Media reports say the Brazilian president will meet with his US counterpart in the White House in the coming days.

Trump has a new Strait of Hormuz plan. The market isn’t buying it - CNN

Trump has a new Strait of Hormuz plan. The market isn’t buying it  CNN

Marco Rubio moonlights as wedding DJ before meeting with Pope Leo - The Times

Marco Rubio moonlights as wedding DJ before meeting with Pope Leo  The Times

Premarket: U.S. stock futures mixed as Middle East risks remain in focus - The Globe and Mail

Premarket: U.S. stock futures mixed as Middle East risks remain in focus  The Globe and Mail

US and UAE report Iran attacks as military pushes to reopen Strait of Hormuz

US forces opened a passage through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after sinking Iranian boats and escorting merchant ships, as fresh attacks struck vessels and facilities in the United Arab Emirates. The escalation has raised fears over global energy supplies and risks derailing a fragile regional ceasefire.

By FRANCE 24

US Apache and Seahawk helicopters sank half a dozen Iranian small boats while clearing out threats around the Strait of Hormuz

The US has created a path through the Strait of Hormuz for safe transit, a top commander said. US Navy photo US Apache and Seahawk helicopters sank six Iranian small boats threatening commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military has also fended off missile and drone attacks threatening the Navy and other vessels. A top commander said the US has created a defended path through the strait for safe travel. US AH-64 Apache and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters eliminated six Iranian smal...

Trump looking forward to China summit with Xi Jinping, as strains from Iran war loom

The two leaders are slated to meet May 14-15 in Beijing as they seek to navigate challenges on trade and other fronts

By Bloomberg News

Opinion - Arrests in massive human trafficking sting connected to Trump, Jan. 6

US, Iran launch new attacks as they wrestle for control of Gulf waters

The US and Iran launched ‌new attacks in the Gulf on Monday as they wrestled for control over the Strait of Hormuz with duelling maritime blockades, shaking a fragile truce. The fresh volleys of missiles and drones came after U.S. President Donald Trump launched a new effort to get stranded tankers and other ships through the strait, the vital energy-trade chokepoint that has been virtually closed since the U.S. and Israel began attacks on Iran in February, a war that has killed thousands of peo

By The Korea Herald

U.S. and Iran trade fire in Gulf, shaking four-week ceasefire

The U.S. military fought off attacks from Iranian drones, missiles and armed small boats as it facilitated the passage of two U.S.-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Senior IDF official: No change in home front rules despite Iran attack on UAE, Oman

"Our air defense systems and attack capabilities are prepared at a high level which is something which has not changed since the ceasefire decision," the IDF official said.

US says Rubio to discuss Mideast in Vatican visit

The State Department said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Pope Leo XIV to discuss the situation in the Middle East, following criticism from US President Donald Trump over the pope’s stance on the war.

Rubio to meet Leo XIV, Meloni in 'relations thawing' mission

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 4 - United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be in Rome this week on what has been described as a relations-thawing mission following President Donald Trump's attacks on Pope Leo XIV and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. Trump has criticised Meloni, with whom he had had friendly relations, several times after she said it was unacceptable for him to have called the pope "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy" following American pontiff's criticism of the Uni...

By ANSA

Ship struck in Strait of Hormuz as Trump says US Navy would escort tankers - The National

Ship struck in Strait of Hormuz as Trump says US Navy would escort tankers  The National

Tanker hit by unknown projectiles in the Gulf coast: UKMTO issues warning - Gulf News

Tanker hit by unknown projectiles in the Gulf coast: UKMTO issues warning  Gulf News

Trump Renews Call For Israel To Pardon Teflon Bibi, The "Wartime Prime Minister"

Trump Renews Call For Israel To Pardon Teflon Bibi, The "Wartime Prime Minister" President Trump has renewed US pressure on some Israeli government decision-makers to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he's still battling multiple corruption charges, at a moment he has ordered the armed forces to be engaged in several fronts, including in Lebanon.  Trump told the Israeli outlet Kan News on Sunday, "Tell your president to pardon Bibi. He's a wartime prime mini...

By Tyler Durden

Bond Market on Edge: Treasury Yields Spike, 30-Year to 5.03%, Mortgage Rates to 6.52%, as Gulf War Reheats

Which raises a question: How many more Fed rate cuts would it take in this inflationary era to drive the 30-year Treasury yield to 6%?

By Wolf Richter

Spain to deploy over 13,000 officers for Pope’s June visit

Spain will deploy over 13,000 officers for Pope Leo XIV’s visit in June, implementing top-level pope visit security to counter multiple potential threats. Read More: https://punchng.com/spain-to-deploy-over-13000-officers-for-popes-june-visit/

By Punch Newspapers

Rethinking the Persian Gulf’s role in deep time human history - Tehran Times

Rethinking the Persian Gulf’s role in deep time human history  Tehran Times

US forces escort ships through Strait of Hormuz amid Iran warnings - rudaw.net

US forces escort ships through Strait of Hormuz amid Iran warnings  rudaw.net

Pope Leo to meet US Secretary of State Rubio Thursday

Pope Leo XIV will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, the Vatican said Monday, just weeks after serious criticism of the pontiff by US President Donald Trump. The post Pope Leo to meet US Secretary of State Rubio Thursday appeared first on Vanguard News.

By Ayobami

President meets the Pope in the Vatican - Iceland Monitor

President meets the Pope in the Vatican  Iceland Monitor